Hip-Hop Reacts to The Death of De La Soul’s Trugoy The Dove
Trugoy The Dove was 54 years old.
On the evening of Sunday, February 12th, a representative of De La Soul confirmed the death of founding member, David Jolicoeur, who rapped in the group as Trugoy The Dove. A cause, along with where and when the rapper passed, has yet to be revealed. Trugoy was 54 years old.
In recent years, Jolicoeur had openly discussed his battle with congestive heart failure. “The diagnosis that I received, as soon as I got home from the hospital, was that congestive heart failure was working itself on me again,” the rapper recounted in the opening of a video for “Royalty Capes,” a single from De La Soul’s 2016 album, And The Anonymous Nobody (see below.) The group discussed it again in a 2020 live session when Jolicoeur was hospitalized during a scare.
Released independently, And The Anonymous Nobody remains one of only two albums from the group’s revered catalog currently available to stream. Compounding the tragedy, the remaining seven albums are due to arrive on DSPs in just a few weeks following a long-fought to battle to clear outstanding sample fees and reclaim the rights to their music.
In the hours since the death of Trugoy was announced, peers, fans, and former collaborators have shared memories and tributes to the rapper on social media, including Prince Paul, A-Trak, Chuck D, and others.
You can read through their reactions below.
Questlove
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DJ Prince Paul
You have no idea how much pain in this last year . Dave love you bro ❤️ a blessing we got a chance to unite again .Divine power . Literally no words anymore 😪. De la soul forever 🙏🏽
— DJ Prince Paul (@DJPrincePaul) February 12, 2023
Chuck D
#RestInBeats my Bro #Dave #Trugoy #DeLaSoul forever @hiphopgods pic.twitter.com/bS5thhyOA1
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 12, 2023
Cypress Hill
https://t.co/Iw4IMAV4iq
R.I.P.— Cypress Hill ™ (@cypresshill) February 12, 2023
A-Trak
This just shattered me. RIP Trugoy The Dove, Plug Two. Hard to express how much De La means to me. The artistry, the creativity, the humor, the wisdom, and just the overall dopeness. Buhloone Mindstate shaped me. All the albums, but that one in particular. Fuck.
— Nappin 4Tay (@atrak) February 12, 2023
Jason Demarco
Re: Trugoy’s passing, I saw De La play live in 1992 in Jacksonville. During the show, a knife fight broke out in the audience. A young woman got slashed in the face. De La immediately jumped into the crowd, stopped the show, and rode with her to the hospital. That’s who they are.
— SPIRAL CURSE DEMARCO (@Clarknova1) February 12, 2023
DJ Premier
So sad to hear of our icons of HIP HOP Culture Pass On…
We will miss you Trugoy The Dove (Plug 2) Dave Jolicoeur of DE LA SOUL…Our memories together are endless.
Condolences to your family and salute Pos, Maseo and Smiles. @WeAreDeLaSoul— DJ Premier (@REALDJPREMIER) February 13, 2023
Open Mike Eagle
shattered at the news that Trugoy passed away. as many times as I’ve said it there’s still no way to adequately describe how much De La Soul’s music and existence means to me. my heart goes out to Posdnous, Mase and all of their families. what a fucking enormous loss.
— open michael eagle (@Mike_Eagle) February 12, 2023
Ben ‘Lambo’ Lamber
Rest in Peace Trugoy of De La Soul. His music and everything surrounding it changed my life as a kid. It’s how I fell in love with hip hop.
— LAMBOLAMBO (@LAMBOLAMBO) February 12, 2023
R.A. the Rugged Man
Ahhh man Rest In Peace Trugoy the Dove 😢😢 one of Long Island’s greats. Innovator game changer Legend. Made beautiful music
De La Soul – Plug 2 #HipHop #King #GoldenEra pic.twitter.com/VOoll0sBcj
— R.A. the Rugged Man (@RAtheRuggedMan) February 12, 2023
Bumpy Knuckles
Salute “TRUGOY The Dove” Forever! #PoPDuKe
— Freddie Foxxx (@BumpyKnuckles) February 12, 2023
Ill Camille
My pops’ favorite group is De La, right?
Our favorite song: “Trying People”.
Our favorite bars:
“Ain’t that Dave’s little girl?
Yo! Respect her for that
She’s gonna be somebody…”Thank you Dave aka “Trugoy the Dove” aka Plug 2.
Peace + Love to @WeAreDeLaSoul. 🤲🏾🌸
— iLLCAMILLE (@illcamille) February 12, 2023
DJ Semtex
Incredibly heart wrenching news.
Rest in power Dave aka Trugoy the Dove. Deepest condolences to Posdnous, Maseo, & his family 🙏🏽🕊 pic.twitter.com/VZ8Fs7PaL5— DJSemtex (@DJSemtex) February 12, 2023
LAKIM
RIP to the dove, Trugoy. De La always been an inspiration.
— LAKIM (@LAKIMisAlive) February 12, 2023
Natasha Diggs
De La raised me.. 😭💔 Peaceful Journeys to Trugoy the Dove 🕊️ Love to Pos Mase and all his family 🙏🏽♥️ https://t.co/DdJ0zl9nHd
— natasha diggs (@natashadiggs) February 12, 2023
B-Real
We lost another legend of hip hop music and culture in my brother Trugoy aka Dave of De La Soul. His music will allow him to live in our hearts and minds as he is gone. But not only was he a great musician but he was a great human being. He meant a lot to us 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/5PlZWX65CF
— B Real ™ (@B_Real) February 12, 2023
Skyzoo
Damn. Sad day for our culture. RIP Trugoy, a true giant in this sport of ours. Smh 🙏🏽🕊 pic.twitter.com/pY6HYEUpTt
— Skyzoo (@skyzoo) February 12, 2023
Erick Sermon
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KAYTRANADA
RIP TRUGOY THE DOVE, PLUG TWO 🕊️
— kaytra-NADA (@KAYTRANADA) February 12, 2023
Robert Glasper
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Evidence
RIP PLUG TWO TRUGOY. 🙏🏽❤️🕊️
— Ev (@Evidence) February 12, 2023
LL Cool J
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Pharrell
Trugoy Dave from De La Soul has gone up ⬆️ to be with the day of the stars with the Master.
Sending love, light and positive vibrations to his family, The Soul and everyone whose lives have been touched by his existence.
Oodles and Oodles and Oodles of O’s ✨🔥💛🎢🙌🏾🍯❤️🩹🙏🏾— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) February 13, 2023
Busta Rhymes
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Jarobi White
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Redman
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9th Wonder
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Monica Lynch
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Styles P
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Royce 5’9”
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M.C. Serch
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Kid Capri
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Nas
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Hi-Tek
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Dante Ross
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Statik Selektah
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Large Professor
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Young Guru
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Diamond D
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Bryan-Michael Cox
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